KVRT & KVSH Racing’s Team Notes for St. Petersburg

Stefano Coletti will make his debut in the Verizon IndyCar Series with KV Racing Technology this weekend at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The GP2 veteran has already been very impressive, finishing third on the time sheets at the Barber Open Test earlier this month.

The 2015 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be Coletti’s first Verizon IndyCar Series start, first with KV Racing Technology and first on the streets of St. Petersburg.

Coletti has been very successful in the GP2 Series, the feeder series to Formula One, earning a total of eight wins and one pole in 90 races.

In 2013, Coletti won the GP2 Series sprint race on the Monaco circuit and became the first Monegasque driver since Louis Chrion in 1931 to have won a race in his homeland.

Coletti will make his second appearance on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. In 2006, he competed in two Formula BMW USA races there, winning the second race after starting 10th and placing second in the other.

Coletti’s sister, Alexandra, is also a professional athlete, who will be competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in the Downhill and Super Combined.

Coletti, 25, is third generation Monegasque, who still resides in Monaco, Monaco.

Four-time series champion Sebastien Bourdais is back with KVSH Racing for a second year and contesting his 10th Verizon IndyCar Series season . Last year was his best year since returning to IndyCar competition in 2011, securing two podium finishes, including a win at Toronto Race 1, earning two poles and finishing 10th in the championship standings with 461 points.

The 2015 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be Bourdais’ 132nd Verizon IndyCar Series start, 19th with KVSH Racing and fifth on the streets of St. Petersburg (did not start in 2011).

In four previous starts at St. Pete, Bourdais has been on pole once and had a best finish of 11th in 2003 and 2013.

Bourdais is contesting his 10th Verizon IndyCar Series season (Champ Car, 5: IndyCar, 5. Drove one IndyCar event in 2005, the Indy 500).

In 131 career Verizon IndyCar Series starts, Bourdais has won 32 races placing him eighth on the all-time list and earned 33 pole positions, tied for seventh all-time.

Bourdais is the only driver to win four consecutive championships, taking the Champ Car World Series title in 2004 – 2007.

Bourdais contested 27 Formula One races (2008-2009)

In addition to winning the 12 Hours of Sebring last weekend, Bourdais has a strong endurance racing record, including winning the 2015 12 Hours of Sebring and the Rolex 24 Hours last year and finishing runner-up this year.

Bourdais, 36, is a native of Le Mans, France but resides in St. Petersburg, Florida.